NetPoint User Guide
Release Notes
If you are upgrading from v5.3.1.5 or earlier and you do not have your 31-character activation key, then please email support@pmatechnologies.com for assistance before installing NetPoint, as this release uses a new licensing system which will require the activation key the first time NetPoint is ran.
Improvements
Ability to Export to P6 XML
Support for P6 XER files v24
Ability to use more RAM (conversion to 64-bit)
New XML library
"Check for Updates” added to Help menu
Improved performance of undo/redo
Option to reset resource histogram display after hiding based on hammocks
Schedule MD: Window made resizable
Schedule MD: Support for NZP files
Schedule MD: Drift calculated for XER files
Schedule MD: Drift and float calculated left of data date for XER files
Schedule MD: Lags are treated the same whether from P6 or NetPoint
Schedule MD: Embeds and hammocks are excluded from all metrics unless explicitly specified
Two features were removed from this release: the ability to set a password and the ability to import/export with Open Plan. If you have any questions or concerns, please email support@pmatechnologies.com.
Fixes
Fix for “After maximizing NetPoint, the right side of the window is cut off (NPTC-3937)”
Fix for “Crash after adding column to header in some files (NPTC-3975)”
Fix for “Crash after renaming WBS in roll-up view of codes manager (NPTC-4200)”
Fix for “Crash after adding embedded node anywhere to schedule (NPTC-3976)”
Fix for terminal window popping when application starts
Fix for crash after resizing an image, image not printing due to Windows upgrade (NPTC-4187)
Schedule MD: Critical Path Test temporarily disabled
Schedule MD: Fix for gap calculation for links in XER files
Known Issues
Importing from Excel | Grid numbers not imported if ID cells are empty/have error (NPTC-4194) | Make sure all ID's are filled in and valid, or uncheck/unmap the column |
Total float/drift calculation with lag | Activity on Monday shows up with 1 day of drift/total float despite a lag to predecessor equal to the gap (NPTC-4180) | Turn off the total float and drift and just show the float. For criticality to show up correctly, click Schedule > Modify Schedule Properties, click the dropdown next to Criticality Factor, and choose Float. Conversely, move the activity to start on a day other than Monday. |
Importing from P6 | The number of fields in the row do not match those for the table (NPTC-3397) | Update to NetPoint version 5.3 or later. This is a known issue with sharing XER files among P6 databases. If you cannot update to 5.3 or later, you can delete this table from the XER and try again; you can use an XER cleaner on the market to fix this (the issue is typically in the RISKTYPE data table); or you can send XER file to support@pmaconsultants.com for assistance. Either way, it is not recommended to update your P6 project with the cleansed file without involving your database administrator. |
Opening Files | Schedules saved in version 5.3 crash when opening in version 5.2 or earlier due to inability to read header/footer properties | In version 5.3, click File > Export to Native XML and then click File > Import from Native XML in version 5.2 or earlier |
Inserting Grids | Inserting grids above milestones/benchmarks with diamonds fails to bump them down to next grid with tight grid spacing (NPTC-4029) | Convert the milestones/benchmarks to shapes other than diamonds OR increase grid spacing |
Exporting to P6 | Import into P6 fails (NPTC-4155) | In the P6 Export - Configure window, make sure at least one radio button in the section Working Hours/Day is checked, e.g. 8am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm (8 hours) |
Filters | Benchmark colors do not appear for selection in the Edit > Search and Filter Objects... window (NPTC-4045) | Use the desired benchmark color for at least one activity in the schedule as well |
Activity descriptions | Activity description positions reset unnecessarily when positioned close to the edge of the canvas (NPTC-4046) | Use a Text Object instead and hide the Activity description |
Grids/Zooming | Certain Milestone/Benchmark shapes like the Flag cause Milestones/Benchmarks to jump grids when zooming due to tight grid spacing (NPTC-4037) | Do not use these shapes if you encounter this issue, or use a higher grid spacing |
Annotations | When moving activities with annotations by keyboard or the gestural window, the annotations get separated from their activities (NPTC-4033) | First deselect the annotations before initiating the movement with the keyboard or gestural window |
Header/Footer | Header text not printing with page size over 38 inches wide (NPTC-4025) | Choose a new paper source in print setup whose width is 38 inches or smaller. |
Milestones Flag | Milestone scrolls down on canvas after changing shape to a flag (NPTC-4024) | Click Schedule > Modify Schedule Properties > Formatting tab. Set the Grid Spacing to .109 or higher, depending on other canvas settings. |
Early Dates Mode | Switching from GPM to Early Dates causes incorrect dates if negative lags present | Do not switch to Early Dates mode if negative lags are present |
Automated Layouts | Automated layout using WBS hangs if project node has ID of -1 with activities underneath it (NPTC-4021) | Click Tools > Codes Manager > WBS > Roll-up View and assign any "unassigned activities" to a WBS level |
Exporting to P6 | XER file generated from NetPoint doesn't import into P6 (NPTC-4014) | During export from NetPoint, set the version to 6.2.1 |
Header/Footer | Text not printing from footer (NPTC-3762) | None |
Updating from Excel | Modifying assignment behavior in Excel and updating NetPoint incorrectly changing value name (NPTC-3775) | Modify assignment behavior in NetPoint before exporting to Excel |
Calendar Strip/Text Object | Text object not moving down when calendar strip size is increased (NPTC-3634) | Re-position manually |